Tigers to field track team this season

After Dickinson Trinity informed the administration of New England Public Schools that they would like to dissolve the co-op, they left the door open to finish the year out competing together on the track. But after a public forum, and a special school board meeting on Feb. 23, New England decided that it is in their best interest to compete as their own team.

Athletic Director Daryl Jung said that they still have uniforms from previous years.

New England Superintendent Kelly Koppinger said that responses were positive when polling the student body on fielding their own track team.

He said New England previously sent up to 15 students to Dickinson to compete with Trinity, and now with their own team he thinks they may be able to double that number.

“I think we’ll double our participation in track from last year to this year,” Koppinger said.

The school will immediately participate as New England in this year’s upcoming season, which teams are eligible to start practicing in less than a week.

Koppinger said details will be ironed out over the next couple of weeks as far as equipment and scheduling goes. Discussion at the special board meeting included where practices might be held. Practice for running events, both short and long distance, can be held right in New England. Special events such as javelin and high jump, among others, may have to be completed at another location.

But as of Feb. 23, track and field has returned to New England.

“I think it gives us a sense of identity again, and I eventually I think we can take and produce some results on the track setting that our kids can get notoriety for.” Koppinger said. “Now the name on our jersey is going to be New England Public School.”